Magento, Shopify, Prestashop: the comparative guide of the best e-commerce platforms

In the vast majority of cases, creating and developing your online store involves the use of an e-commerce platform.

There's only one thing: the offer seems plethoric and choosing can be difficult 🤔

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A hasty decision without considering certain criteria can have painful consequences.

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However, if there is such a choice, and if the offer evolves so much over time thanks to the arrival of new players, it is undoubtedly that the needs of e-retailers are themselves changing and often very specific.

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A look back at what e-commerce software is, on the overall functioning of an e-commerce CMS and on criteria that will allow you to choose the e-commerce platform that will really suit you 👊

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We also offer you a comparison of the best e-commerce platforms available, with supporting examples.

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What is an e-commerce platform?

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Technically, the e-commerce platforms are software solutions “all inclusive” for retailers wishing to develop an online store.

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Whether they are retailers totally focused on e-commerce, or professionals who own a physical store for which they consider it wise to create a digital extension.

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In this respect, e-commerce software is not a fixed or unique tool: as the needs are varied, so are the answers.

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The main function is to provide retailers with a retail space where buyers can buy their goods or services.

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In addition to the creation of the online store itself, various services can, depending on the tools offered by e-commerce CMS, make it possible to manage both accounting and stocks, or even customer service.

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The advantage is to have everything at hand, in a cost-controlled solution that will save you time.

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Two types of solutions exist ✌️

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To create a modest-sized store, it is possible to rely on certain CMS designed to build websites.

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For larger stores or to have more options, it will be better turn to e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, Woocommerce or Magento, open source or SaaS.

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Useful steps and criteria for selecting your e-commerce software

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Don't make the mistake of starting out with a tool that's not right for you!

At best, that causes additional costs or worse, dysfunctions that are harmful to your image - and for your turnover 😭

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Choosing your e-commerce platform involves comparing certain criteria with your needs in advance.

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Define your needs for your e-commerce site

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It is essential to List the reasons why you use an e-commerce platform.

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First, get clear with the function you assign to your future online store.

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It can in fact be a relay, a distribution tool for brand image of your physical store, positively impacting your turnover without being the backbone.

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Conversely, it can be thecentral element of your business, by being placed at the heart of a global digital strategy.

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Then, think about your catchment area : this can range from local customers or customers visiting a physical store, to international customers through more or less extensive regional dimensions.

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Also, try to Survey the back office, the fluidity of the interface, to assess what you or your staff will gain from an administrative point of view if that is part of your criteria.

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Finally, have a clear idea of your reporting and analysis needs, because not all e-commerce software has the same potential.

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👉 Also read: The 10 e-commerce acquisition levers you need to know to boost your sales

Essential functionalities for an e-commerce platform

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Two basic but vital features should be clearly identifiable.

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The first is the product catalog management interface.

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According to the depth of your catalog, your needs are going to be different 😊

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Do you offer 20 products with few attributes, product updates infrequent?

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As an example, we can cite DNVB, these start-ups that offer unique products or a shallow product catalog.

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Or, conversely, your brand offers a catalog regularly of several thousand references with colors, sizes, customizations possible, with a regular update frequency.

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As seen in fashion, interior design or in major retail chains 🧑 ‍ 🌾🥫

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The modeling of the frame of reference must be fluid and simple, and allow the various product categories as well as their attributes.

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The second is to be able integrate your pricing model, including in a “B2B” vision.

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For example, by displaying, if necessary, different prices depending on the categories of buyers.

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Beyond these fundamentals, the possibilities ofe-commerce software integration are to be closely monitored.

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And it is finally recommended to Prioritize transparency when it comes to updates.

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Visual and ergonomic aspects

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La visual presentation of your sales pages is important because it determines a large part of the user experience.

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It is therefore important to quickly judge what offers an e-commerce platform in terms of visuals, templates and templates.

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Or at least explore the possibilities and limits in graphic design which can be applied to page formats, when the e-commerce platform allows you to create tailor-made pages.

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Especially since in certain sectors of activity, buyers may have to consult a large number of pages, without weariness, and of course without getting lost.

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In terms of ergonomics, you must at the same time make it seem to you smooth for users and for you.

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In particular, it is impossible to miss the construction of a “mobile-friendly” site.

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It is also preferable that the templates adapt to product categories to differentiate them well without too much effort.

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Other options may finally be valuable, such as being able to customize a product page in order to dedicate it to an event.

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The budget of your e-commerce platform

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In some cases, a free e-commerce software can perfectly match your needs.

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However, you will need pay for accommodation, and you are not immune to having to subscribe to paid services later.

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If you can anticipate these non-visible costs, great 🤗

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But in this case, compare with paid offers, which are perceived as “too” complete at first glance, but which could save you additional costs.

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If you opt for a paid e-commerce platform, think of it as an investment, in the sense that there must be a return.

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In other words, Pay for what you need and with full knowledge of the facts, but don't overlook a free e-commerce platform if it's right for you.

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👉 See also: 12 simple tips to improve your Google Shopping ranking

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Reputation and customer support

La reputation of your future e-commerce software can be a decisive choice criterion.

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It is of course interesting to read user reviews, as available on Google, but to have a vision adapted to your needs it is necessary to select the sources of these reviews.

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In other words, focus on the opinions from professionals in the same sector of activity only you.

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Do not hesitate to consult comparisons and other benchmarks that can provide you, in addition to an informed opinion, with reliable technical information.

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Finally, consider looking for reviews and information concerning customer support and maintenance quality of the various e-commerce platforms: you will quickly realize that quality customer support is very valuable.

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The potential for integration

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We don't always think about it quickly enough, but if you have other marketing tools such as CRM or for your accounting, you will have to ensure that they can integrate your e-commerce platform.

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One method: your “short-list”

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Establish a priority list, by first placing the selection criteria that are essential to you.

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Then place the features that would be pleasant for you, but which you could do without in case of a difficult choice.

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Finally, place At the bottom of the list the optional criteria, which would be a plus without their absence being decisive.

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For each of the platforms you are considering, that you are testing, fill out the information on the criteria selected. Arbitrate with the price for each of the platforms.

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The comparison of the best e-commerce applications

In order to guide you towards a reliable choice of e-commerce platforms, we offer you Compare five of the best e-commerce applications here in a “Prestashop vs Shopify vs Magento vs WooCommerce” match, to which we added a well-known CMS, Wix.

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Prestashop, free and well optimized

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Prestashop Is a Pioneering e-commerce CMS in its field, reliable, fairly complete and recognized by thousands of users.

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The platform claims nearly 300,000 sites 🌎

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It is appreciated for the wide variety of its templates, the numerous integrated tools and the facilities it offers in terms of communication with buyers.

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On the SEO side, the Optimization tools are numerous and effective.

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Open source software, the Prestashop platform is widely used. Of numerous addons are offered for free or for a fee to add specific functionalities or connectors.

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The costs are limited to your upfront expenses for a domain name and hosting.

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While Prestashop is suitable for both modest shops and large online stores, it is still a free e-commerce platform that requires a certain amount of dexterity.

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If you are familiar with it or are accompanied by a French software specialist, everything is fine.

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But a beginner might have a harder time exploiting their potential.

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The well-known online store for vapers The little vapoteur is built under Prestashop. We can also mention Magimix, specialist in food processors.

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To discover more Prestashop sample sites.

It shows that with a good level of mastery you can do varied and complex things while remaining attractive.

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Shopify, the easy way

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Shopify is not a free e-commerce software, but the value for money clearly plays in favor for its excellent reputation.

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Close to 5 million sites in 175 countries : Shopify is clearly the world leader in terms of deploying e-commerce sites 🛍️

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The platform has numerous features, starting with an interface offering effective control of its ergonomics to say the least.

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The grip is overall simple and smooth. The CMS includes an impressive number of themes, for optimal customization.

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Shopify allowsadding extensions, which is good to know before subscribing.

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Indeed, if the platform does not seem complete enough at first glance, it may however be that a free or paid Shopify plugin allows you to meet your needs particular.

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Many professionals also appreciate Shopify for the great readability of its statistics, promoting reporting and improving your sales campaigns.

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Small point to watch out for: the cost 💸

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Because if your needs are really multiple, the Bill may go up over the long term.

The site selling customizable cookies Shanty cookies is a good example of versatility allowed by a site built under Shopify, with a high degree of customization.

Wix, for modest, beautiful and effective sites

We often like the builder of showcase sites at Wix, but you should know that Wix also allows the creation of online stores.

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More than 8 million online sites are backed by Wix globally 🙌

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It can be very interesting to look at paid offers from Wix to take control of your e-commerce platform French, especially if you are a local or regional merchant.

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Wix offers a interface at the top of usability and ergonomics.

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The platform offers affordable and very complete offers. The usually reputable customer service is up to the task.

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For example, you can visit the sports equipment site Races/roads, a witness to the clarity and sense of aesthetics put forward by Wix.

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👉 Discover also: E-commerce: Which product flow manager should you choose?

Magento, powerful and free

Magento Is a opensource CMS e-commerce software, so free,

Now owned by Adobe, the platform Magento was created in 2007 but is still widely used.

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Over 240,000 e-commerce sites use Magento 🖥️

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Of course you will need own your own hosting and domain name in order to be able to use it.

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It is an impressive tool, which requires a lot of system resources, but which is formidable if your project is ambitious.

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Those who can master its complexity love it for the incredible freedom it confers in terms of creativity and functionalities.

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Magento allows conduct several sites at the same time, multi-currency use, infinite customization and effective SEO tools.

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Despite the need for good skills, everything is included and well-designed templates can still allow you to get started.

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Deployed for many years, the platform offers a marketplace of developed functionalities by external techs.

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By visiting the site of the famous sports shoe brand nike, you will take the Measuring the potential of Magento when it comes to creating complex sites.

Woocommerce, a very customizable reference

Woocommerce is a free e-commerce application, because it is open source.

Installed on the Wordpress CMS, the platform claims to manage nearly 30% of e-commerce sites worldwide - over 4 million sites are claimed 🗺️

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It is well suited to modest shops, thanks to clear and simple creation and organization tools to be implemented.

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However, the platform also allows tackle ambitious e-commerce projects, thanks to powerful plugins, some of which are however chargeable.

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If efficiency and ergonomics are there, the Software requires a certain amount of autonomy for the biggest sites.

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Customer support is indeed not very present, despite a rich documentation and a smooth handling.

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Complex, this e-commerce CMS is however full of resources and shows good integration skills.

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Clear, well-built and functional, the site of Boutique de l'Assemblée Nationale is a good example of What can be done with Woocommerce.

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In conclusion, the choice of the best e-commerce platform depends largely on specific needs of each company.

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Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, PrestaShop, and Wix each offer unique benefits that can meet a variety of business goals, ranging from ease of use to advanced customization options.

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Shopify is ideal for anyone looking for a all-in-one solution with a user-friendly interface, while WooCommerce is perfect for WordPress users who need flexibility.

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Magento is intended for large companies requiring complex functionalities and significant scalability.

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PrestaShop, on the other hand, offers a highly customizable open-source platform for those who have some technical expertise.

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Finally, Wix is especially suitable for small businesses or to individual entrepreneurs who are starting out in online business.

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The key is to carefully assess your needs for features, budget, and scalability before making a decision.

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By choosing the right platform, you can optimize your Google Shopping campaigns and maximize your conversion rates thanks to adapted solutions.

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Remember that continuously optimizing your site is just as crucial to ensuring the long-term success of your online business.

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